Fish-trap.



No. 692,051 l Ptented 1an. 28, |902.

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FISH TRAP.

(Application led May 3, 1901,)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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WITNESSES /N VEN oH jv/27322572 Warm re* Afro/ EVS w: Nokms vzfcns oc., FHcToLlmn., wAsamaTbN, n4 cA No. 692,057. Patented 1an. 28,1902.

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FISH TRAP.

(Application filed May 3, 1901.) (No Modelz) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. the crib c, which is in 'line with the central frame d and open at their upper ends.

UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

EPHRAIM WILLARD LIVERMORE, OF NEW VVHATOOM, WASHINGTON.

FISH-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EPHRAIMWILLARD Liv- ERMORE, a citizenof theUnited States, and a resident of New Whatcom, in the county of Nhatcom and State of Washingtornfhave invented a new and Improved Fish-Trap, of which the following is afull', clear, and exact description. p

This invention relates to a fish-trap ot' that class which is designed to be floated inthe water and anchored to hold it in the proper place.

The trap comprises a lead, a heart, and a crib, with certain peculiarA features of construction producing a trap efficient in every respect.

This specification is a specific description of one form of the invention, `while the claims are definitions of the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof, tnd Fig. 3 is a section taken in line with the ead.

The trap has a rigid framework built, preferably, of wood, so that the netting may be hung to form the heart, which comprises the central part o., with the vdiagonal wings b and part of the heart.v The various parts ofthe framing are indicated by the letter d. The framing d is braced to insure its rigidity by diagonal tie-rods e, connecting the various partsthereof, as shown in the drawings. For regulating` the depth at which the trap tioats, I provide a number of ballast-tubes j', which are fastened securely to vertical portions of the Into these tubes water maybe pumped,so as to sink the frame, and if it be desired to float the frame higher upon pumping out this water the buoyancy of the frame will be increased. The trap is held in the proper position by anchors g, `the lines g of which pass over blocks g2, secured tothe bottom of the frame and y thence upward to Winches g3, mounted on the top of the frame, by which Winches the lines g may be hauled, so as to change the position of the trap or to take up slack in the stretched in proper adjustment.

forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,0 57, dated January 28, 1902.

Application nea May s, 1901. semina 58,621. (romano Y lines, as will be understood. In passing over` the upper cornersof the frame d the lines g run on sheaves g4, mounted at the top ofthe frame, as shown.v i

' The various sections of netting constituting the Walls of the heart and crib are mounted so that they may be moved up and down onsuitable guide-rods carried by the frame d, and for the purpose of soadjusting` the net-` ting lines h are provided, such lines passing from the bottom of the netting upward to the top of the frame and being engaged with cleats h thereon, whereby the lines are held. indicates the tunnel, which leads from the inner endfof the body portion a of the heart into the crib c. `This tunnel is fastened to the frame d adjacent to the heart and has its small end held inpproper position by lines '11', which pass, respectively, from its upper and lower ends and which are fastened to a cleat 112 on the top of the frame d, the lower line i" being passed first to the bottom of the frame and then over a sheave is, (see Fig. 3,) from which point such line t" is passed upward to the cleat 112, before referred to. By hauling taut these lines fi', the tunnel i may be held At the outer opening of the main part a of the heart-that is to say, at the opening which communicates with the open water-and at the opening between the body'ct of the heart and the crib c I provide aprons of netting k. These aprons are movable up and down, so as to extend across the openings and close them or to be raised above the openings, leaving them unobstructed. Such aprons k are mounted on guide-rods 7c', held vertically by the frame d and connected with lines 7a2, which pass upward tothe top of the frame and are secured thereto by engagement with cleats 103, similar to the cleats 7L', mentioned before. These aprons are of course provided with downhaul lines as Well as uphaul lines. Owing to the difficulty of illustrating the exact arrangement o'f these lines I have not attempted to show them in the drawings; but since they are commonly Aemployed in the art theywill be readily understood by persons skilled therein.

The lead fm is formed of the usual mesh and provided at its bottom with weights 'm' for sinking it. At its top the lead is sustained on the surface by boom-ioats fm2, con- IOC nected together by chains or the like m3, as shown. The lead is attached to the framing of the trap at one 'side of the opening -into the heart. Anchors n and cables n are employed for holding the lead properly disposed.

The trap thus constructed presents the least possible resistance to the passage of the tidal currents consistent with that degree of strength which of course is necessary. It may be iioated at any elevation desired. by the proper disposition of Water in the ballast-tubes f, and by means of the peculiar arrangement of Winches and anchors and lines the trap may be easily adjusted exactly to the position desired. By manipulating the aprons 7s any part of the trap may be fished to the exclusion of the other parts, as may suit the conditions of the fishing. The entire trap maybe cut od by closing the apron at the receiving-opening of the heartbody a. If any one of the divisions b and c of the trap be in need of repair, these divisions may be individually closed without putting the entire trap out of operation. n

By constructing a rigid buoyant frame such as I have provided and attaching the anchor-cables to the bottom thereof it is possible for me to anchor the tray in very rapid currents and to hold it in place withoutfear of the trap riding under or becoming racked by the strain to which it is necessarily subjected. This obvious result could not be attained by attaching the anchor-ropes to the top of the frame.

Having thus described my invention, I

-to the winding device. Y

2. The combination with a fio-ating fishtrap, of guide devices at the lower portion thereof, an anchor rope run through the guide devices and passed upward to the top of the trap, and a winding device at the top of the trap` for the anchor-rope.

3. In a fish-trap, the combination of arigid buoyant frame, netting held by the frame to constitute the walls and passages of the trap, and means for anchoring the trap in a body of water, said means comprising anchor-cables joined tothe lower portion ofthe frame, for the purpose specified. 4. In a fish-trap, the combination of a rigid buoyant frame, netting carried by the frame to form the walls and passages of the trap, guide devices at the bottom of the frame, winding devices at the top of the frame, and carrying means comprising cables rove through the guide devices and passed upward tothe winding devices.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. EPHRAIM WILLARD LIVERMORE. Witnesses:

HENRY L. WOLCOTT, GEO. C. FISHER. 

